HB 118-EXPANDING PRISONER ACCESS TO COMPUTERS  4:04:58 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 118(STA)(efd am) "An Act relating to state identifications and driver's licenses for persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections; relating to the duties of the commissioner of corrections; relating to living conditions for prisoners; and providing for an effective date." 4:05:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 118, stated that the bill is the result of informational hearings the House State Affairs Committee held in conjunction with the Department of Corrections to address recidivism and recidivism reduction. There was complete agreement that it was in the best interest of Alaska and society to have lower rates of offense and a few changes could promote that outcome. He continued the introduction of HB 118 speaking to the following sponsor statement: The intent of this bill is to remove the restriction prohibiting a prisoner from possessing a computer in their cell, expanding access to safe and secure internet for purposes of rehabilitation and reintegration, and provide prisoners with easier access to state identification upon release. HB 118 creates an easier process of reentry and rehabilitation for inmates and lessens the risk of reoffending. By allowing access to safe and secure internet, inmates are better able to prepare themselves for reentry into the outside world. According to a study released by the Department of Justice, 68% of prisoners are arrested again within three years, 83% during the following nine years. One of the key reasons for reoffending is the difficulty prisoners face securing employment post incarceration. Access to online job training, therapy and visitation helps to alleviate the risk of reoffending. Another important element of this bill is it provides easier access to identification for prisoners upon release, allowing them an important tool for reintegration. Both expanding internet access for prisoners and providing prisoners with easier access to state identification help ease the difficulties of reentry and will help to lower the risk of recidivism. CHAIR SHOWER asked if there were questions for the bill sponsor. SENATOR COSTELLO offered her understanding that the legislature had passed legislation that stipulated that anyone who is released from incarceration will be provided a state ID. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he wasn't aware of that, but he would defer to the representative from the Department of Corrections (DOC). 4:08:36 PM KELLY GOODE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Corrections (DOC), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that there is nothing in statute that requires DOC to ensure that prisoners have obtained a state ID before they are released from prison. However, the department generally tries to help individuals understand the process for getting a state ID after they're released. It is in statute that DOC must provide a voucher that individuals can take to DMV to pay for their license or state ID. SENATOR KAWASAKI referenced Section 3 and said it looks like the existing statute says (a) The commissioner shall (11) assist a prisoner in obtaining a valid state identification card if the prisoner does not have a valid state identification card before the prisoner's release; He asked if that is what has been happening and if HB 118 places sideboards on exactly what must be done. MS. GOODE offered her view that it's the opposite. The "shall" in the existing language refers to the voucher system, which ensures that DOC provides an avenue for anyone who needs a state ID to receive one. She added that the commissioner looked at this extensively last year and learned that the number of people who are released and do not already have an ID is very small. She also reminded the committee that a significant number of individuals who are incarcerated suffer from mental illness and some of those individuals will never want an ID. Others have alternative IDs that they prefer to use. MS. GOODE said she believes the sponsor's intent is to ensure that the Department of Corrections (DOC) works with the Department of Administration (DOA) to find more ways to ensure that prisoners being released have IDs if they want one. CHAIR SHOWER requested the sectional analysis. 4:12:34 PM CLAIRE GROSS, Staff, Representative Jonathon Kreiss-Tomkins, Juneau, Alaska, read the sectional analysis for HB 118, version I.A into the record. Section 1 AS 18.65.310 Identification Cards Amends AS 18.65.310 to require that the Department of Administration (DOA) mail a state identification card to a Department of Corrections (DOC) address upon request by an applicant who is serving an active term of imprisonment of more than 120 days. Section 2 AS 28.15.101 Expiration and Renewal of Driver's License Amends AS 28.15.101 to require that the DOA mail a driver's license renewed by mail to a DOC address upon request by an applicant who is serving an active term of imprisonment of more than 120 days. This section does not require the DOA to issue new driver's licenses Section 3 AS 33.30.011 Duties of Commissioner Amends AS 33.30.011 to require the DOC Commissioner and the DOA Commissioner to make a good faith effort to ensure prisoners serving an active term of imprisonment of more than 120 days have a state identification card upon release. Section 4 AS 33.30.015 Living Conditions for Prisoners Amends AS 33.30.015(a) by deleting the word "computer" from the list of items a prisoner may not possess in their cell, and by adding language to allow prisoners to use a computer for purposes that facilitate their rehabilitation or compliance with a reentry or case plan, for legal reference materials, visitation, or health care. Section 5 AS 33.30.095 Duties of Commissioner Before Release of Prisoner Amends [AS 33.30.095] by requiring the program to provide instruction on obtaining a state identification if one or more prisoners will not otherwise possess a valid state identification card upon release. Section 6 Establishes an effective date of January 1, 2023.  CHAIR SHOWER asked Ms. Gross to go over the fiscal note. MS. GROSS stated that the Department of Corrections (DOC) submitted a zero fiscal note for HB 118. DOC will be able to use current technology to implement the bill. The analysis includes the following statement: Coordination with DOA regarding state identification cards for prisoners can also be accomplished with no fiscal impact. Therefore, a zero fiscal note is being submitted. 4:15:37 PM CHAIR SHOWER commented that it seems as though there would be some cost associated with additional computer use and that brings up the need to ensure they are secure and don't allow access to such things as pornography. He asked Ms. Goode to comment. MS. GOODE said inmates already have access to computers in the law library and education rooms. The bill doesn't affect those computers. The bill addresses a computer in a cell. The No Frill Prisons Act from the 1990s stated that an inmate could not have a computer in their cell. DOC does not intend to have computers in cells, but would like the ability to offer tablets that are specially made for inmates. There is no cost because this would go through the procurement process, and the inmate would pay for their use, unless they were indigent. In that case, DOC would pick up the cost. The system would be as safe as possible because these special tablets have an internal wireless system that is managed and monitored. The idea is to allow an inmate to do things from their cell such as take an education program, an anger management program, or finish their GED. The cost is contained in the program itself. CHAIR SHOWER asked who manages and monitors the system and if there wouldn't be a cost to go through an RFP to a vender. 4:19:15 PM MS. GOODE confirmed that DOC would go through the RFP procurement process. A number of companies in the Lower 48 provide this service. The cost will be picked up by the inmates who will pay to use the tablets. DOC has not implemented this in the individual cells but could have them in general population areas. CHAIR SHOWER asked if the usage was already in the DOC budget. MS. GOODE answered no; the inmates would pay for the tablets when they pay to use the system. CHAIR SHOWER asked how the inmates would pay. MS. GOODE replied that would be determined based on the procurement process, but it would work the same way that inmates currently pay for phone calls. CHAIR SHOWER asked how the inmates pay. MS. GOODE replied there are several options. Many inmates work at jobs within the facility and their earnings are booked and available for use in the commissary, to make phone calls, and to make orders that are within policy. Many inmates also receive outside funding from any number of sources. CHAIR SHOWER said he assumes that indigent prisoners would be accommodated. MS. GOODE answered yes, just as indigent inmates are accommodated now with phone calls. CHAIR SHOWER remarked that he believes this is an important part of the rehabilitation process that may help to lower recidivism rates. 4:23:13 PM CHAIR SHOWER asked the sponsor if he had any additional comments. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS agreed with Ms. Goode that use of these special tablets would be handled in the same way as the prison phone call system, and that there is precedent from other states about the successful use of these tablets in correctional facilities. CHAIR SHOWER asked what percentage of inmates are anticipated to want to use one of these special tablets, and if there is any data on how this may affect recidivism. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said that would be a good question for the reentry community. CHAIR SHOWER said it'd be nice to have that data from other states. He asked Ms. Goode what percentage of the prison population DOC envisions might take advantage of this program. MS. GOODE said she didn't have any data but anecdotal evidence from other states that have implemented tablets is that there is significant interest. She wasn't aware of data about recidivism, but it's probably a good tool for inmates. CHAIR SHOWER commented that his experience going through reentry training made him aware of how difficult it is to succeed and how easy it is to fail. SENATOR COSTELLO noted the January 1, 2022 effective date needed to be updated. 4:27:48 PM At ease 4:28:42 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and held HB 118 in committee.